90 percent of South Florida's tech workers would leave their jobs

Tech professionals in South Florida want better pay and more balance between their work and home lives.

A record 90 percent say they would leave their current jobs for better opportunities, according to the annual Pro Tech Staffing surveys of South Florida tech leadership and professionals, released Wednesday.

That's up from 88 percent in the 2015 survey.

Salary was the top reason, citied by 38 percent of the tech professionals ready to job hop.

Tech professionals reported a smaller boost in salary in 2015, an average increase of 4 percent, compared with an average pay hike of 5 percent in 2014 and 6 percent in 2013.

The regional survey follows a recent national report that shows Florida's average tech wage at $82,566, well below the national average of $104,400, according to the 2016 Cyberstates report by the Computing Technology Industry Association.

The second reason for potentially leaving their jobs is work-life balance, cited by 15 percent. Lack of career path and employer instability tied at 9 percent.

This is the first time in the annual survey, which began in 2004, that work-life balance has been a top reason for leaving an employer, said Deborah Vazquez, CEO of Pro-Tech.

More work-life balance incentives, such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules, can attract and retain key staff members, she said.

"Employers may be missing a good opportunity," Vazquez said.

Other perks favored by tech workers are sign-on, retention or annual bonuses and additional vacation, according to the survey.

Sixty-eight percent of tech employers surveyed said they would increase their staff during 2016. That's up from 67 percent last year and 65 percent in 2014. No employers said they planned to decrease staff.

More than 100 technology executives responded to the 14th annual Tech Leadership Survey, and more than 1,200 IT professionals responded to the 12th annual Tech Talent survey.